Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

I love sharing my antique quilt collection in trunk shows and classes.
I also love seeing other people's quilts (both old, new, traditional, modern, and art) and sharing my knowledge with them and helping them appreciate their treasures. With antique and vintage quilts, it is a joy to be able to help them connect with the past. And sometimes, I even get a minute to investigate quilts in my own collection (what I'm doing in the photo) between answering quilt appraisal questions.

I was visiting my home state guild, the Utah Quilt Guild, in September and sharing my Antique Star Quilt trunk show. Here's a bit of the show.

Friday, February 23, 2018

Another treasure from the Chester County Historical Society, part of the quilt appraiser continuing education seminar. We were treated to an amazing quilt turning. This hexagon Flower Garden was absolutely amazing with a huge number of fabrics. 1830s beauty!

And look at the wonderful fussy cutting! And people think that is something new.

Thursday, February 22, 2018

There were all sort of wonderful treasures in the Schwenkfelder Museum in Pennsburg, Pennsylvania. Visited there as part of continuing education for appraisers via PAAQT (Professional Association of Appraisers Quilted Textiles). See more about both in yesterday's post.

The hand quilting on this 4 block applique quilt is absolutely stunning.

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

As part of the continuing education for certified quilt appraisers - PAAQT (Professional Association of Appraisers Quilted Textiles) holds an annual seminar. Last year's was held in SE Pennsylvania and we visited two museums, Chester County Historical Society (see prior post) and the Schwenkfelder History Center and Museum in Pennsburg, PA. We were treated to a wonderful bed turning from their collection and the walls were festooned with fabulous star quilts. Here are a few. Enjoy.

Ps. Click on the link above or here for more information on Schwenkfelders. Super brief synopsis: A religious group from Southern Germany area, part of Protestant Reformation. Followers of Caspar Schwenckfeld. Many emigrated to SE Pennsylvania.

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

My 1880s Antique Hexagon Medallion quilt has so many wonderful fabrics. Here are some of my favorites. I especially like the faux or simulated needlepoint flower (black background) and the purple pansy next to it. And of course, the young man.

And there's the young man's friend below and the poor sad bird with the chopped off head :(

The musician may be part of the same fabric too. The bird is part of a faux patchwork crazy quilt print from the 1880s and their is another cheater print right below. There are also a couple of Centennial 1876 prints in the quilt. Enjoy!

Monday, February 19, 2018

The funny guys, in the first two photos, are called Brownies and were created by an artist named Palmer Cox. They are seen most in the 1890s era but the quilt is a bit newer based on the Boy Scout insignia from about 1918. **Sorry about the earlier blank post, technology is wonderful almost all the time ;)

Sunday, February 18, 2018

If you are ever near the Philadelphia area - make a beeline for the Chester County Historical Society!!
They have amazing antique treasures, particularly quilts. Last summer I was blessed to visit CCHS with my fellow certified quilt appraisers from PAAQT aka the Professional Association of Appraisers Quilted Textiles. We visited as part of our continuing education training.

Among the amazing quilts we saw at CCHS was the famed Oxford Seminary Quilt from the 1840s. Enjoy a few photos. Let me know if you'd like to see more of this one and some others?

Friday, February 16, 2018

After yesterday's post on neon prints, I thought I'd continue with another fabric terminology tutorial: Pillar Prints. Pillar prints are fabrics prominently depicting architectural columns or pillars (think Greek ruins or old Southern mansions).
This is my favorite - part of my Birds and Blooms trunk show or antique quilt study class. 1820s from England. Pillars with birds are the best!

Here's another -pillar print with baskets. This print was produced in at least 15 different colorways/versions. A ridiculously popular print. Backing fabric for a double 9 patch in my collection. ** Another fabric/color term is monochrome (aka one color) and this is the monochrome version. A multicolored would be a poly-chrome.

Thursday, February 15, 2018

Neon prints were produced mainly at the end of the 1800s and the name is because they are brights set against darks like neon lights. Here are a few examples.

The bright green and pink backing on my Rocky Road to Kansas is a great example of a neon print or neon fabric

And that blue print below the cherubs is a good one too. By the way it was printed by Hamilton Printworks of Lowell, Massachusetts in 1881. And this is from the Tumbling Block Star with the 1881 calendar print.

This faux patchwork star print or cheater cloth is rather neony, as well.